shawnstudio

About Health Insurance: Did You Know?

noreply@blogger.com (Shawn4lia) — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 02:50:00 +0000

Did you know that those of our fellow citizens with pre-existing medical conditions can get health coverage if their employer provides it, but can't purchase it on their own? As the parent of three grown children, two of whom have a lifelong pre-existing condition, I have recently discovered that they cannot obtain coverage AT ANY PRICE, unless they are employed by a company that offers it. Wonderful. So why is this? Because the employer gets a nice tax deduction, in exchange for offering an insurance plan that is available to all comers. The rules are laid down by the federal government. If not for this government intervention, no one with any past or present health issues would have any insurance at all. The point is, extensive government intervention is the only thing that makes our teetering health care system work at all. An unregulated free market just won't cure what ails it.

And did you know that your private insurance policy that you love so much probably has a lifetime cap? Go ahead, look it up. How quickly will you exceed that amount if you are in a major car accident, or get cancer, or have a heart attack?

Our system needs major surgery, and soon. I would prefer universal single payer, but if not that, a robust public option that doesn't leave out those who need medical care the most is the next best thing. Join me in supporting President Obama and progressive Democrats in their efforts to reform health care against the powerful corporate interests that control our medical future.

Won't you come up and look at my etchings?

noreply@blogger.com (Shawn4lia) — Tue, 26 May 2009 16:15:00 +0000

OK, they're not really etchings, they are pencil portraits, and you can see them on my new website! I have been drawing portraits for over twenty years, and have finally put them on a website for all to see. Do stop by and let me know what you think!

Keeping Your Enemies Closer

noreply@blogger.com (Shawn4lia) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 16:55:00 +0000

Sen. John Ensign, R-Nevada, told CNN Sunday it was "irresponsible" for President Obama to been seen "laughing and joking" with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez at the Summit of the Americas on Friday. Newt Gingrich, on the Today show this morning, criticizing Obama's smiling and shaking hands with Chavez, stated when asked about the United States' relations with dictators in the past: "...we didn't rush over, smile and greet Russian dictators.." Oh, really? Let's see about that.

A Day in the Life of Joe Middle-Class Republican

noreply@blogger.com (Shawn4lia) — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 18:00:00 +0000

by John Gray
(slightly updated by me--originally posted on michaelmoore.com in 2004.)

Joe gets up at 6:00am to prepare his morning coffee. He fills his pot full of good clean drinking water because some liberal fought for minimum water quality standards. He takes his daily medication with his first swallow of coffee. His medications are safe to take because some liberal fought to insure their safety and that they work as advertised.

All but $10.00 of his medications are paid for by his employer's medical plan because some liberal union workers fought their employers for paid medical insurance, so now Joe gets it too. He prepares his morning breakfast, bacon and eggs this day. Joe’s bacon is safe to eat because some liberal fought for laws to regulate the meat packing industry.

Joe takes his morning shower reaching for his shampoo. His bottle is properly labeled with every ingredient and the amount of its contents because some liberal fought for his right to know what he was putting on his body and how much it contains. Joe dresses, walks outside and takes a deep breath. The air he breathes is clean because some tree-hugging liberal fought for laws to stop industries from polluting our air. He walks to the subway station for his government subsidized ride to work; it saves him considerable money in parking and transportation fees. You see, some liberal fought for affordable public transportation, which gives everyone the opportunity to be a contributor.

Joe begins his work day; he has a good job with excellent pay, medicals benefits, retirement, paid holidays and vacation because some liberal union members fought and died for these working standards. Joe’s employer pays these standards because Joe’s employer doesn’t want his employees to call the union. If Joe is hurt on the job or becomes unemployed he’ll get a worker compensation or unemployment check because some liberal didn’t think he should lose his home because of his temporary misfortune.

It's noon time; Joe needs to make a bank deposit so he can pay some bills. Joe’s deposit is federally insured by the FDIC because some liberal wanted to protect Joe’s money from the kind of unscrupulous bankers who ruined the banking system before the depression.

Joe has to pay his Fannie Mae underwritten mortgage and his below-market federal student loan because some stupid liberal decided that Joe and the government would be better off if he was educated and earned more money over his lifetime.

Joe is home from work; he plans to visit his father this evening at his farm home in the country. He gets in his car for the drive to dad's; his car is among the safest in the world because some liberal fought for car safety standards. He arrives at his boyhood home. He was the third generation to live in the house financed by Farmers Home Administration because bankers didn’t want to make rural loans. The house didn’t have electricity until some big government liberal stuck his nose where it didn’t belong and demanded rural electrification. (Those rural Republicans would still be sitting in the dark.)

He is happy to see his dad who is now retired. His dad lives on Social Security and his union pension because some liberal made sure he could take care of himself so Joe wouldn’t have to. After his visit with dad he gets back in his car for the ride home.

He turns on a radio talk show; the host keeps saying that liberals are bad and conservatives are good. (He doesn’t tell Joe that his beloved Republicans have fought against every protection and benefit Joe enjoys throughout his day.) Joe agrees, “We don’t need those big government liberals ruining our lives; after all, I’m a self-made man who believes everyone should take care of themselves, just like I have."

The Shoemaker and the Pre-Existing Condition

noreply@blogger.com (Shawn4lia) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 15:45:00 +0000

Most of us older folks know the tale of the shoemaker, who was so busy making shoes for others that his own children went shoeless. I was reminded of him when I read this today:

"Kaiser Permanente Chairman and CEO George Halverson says frankly: 'I could not get insurance. I've had heart surgery, and so I am completely uninsurable in the private market. So it's important that I keep my job.' "

No further comment necessary. We need wholesale health care reform, and we need it NOW. Let your representatives know that you won't take no for an answer.

noreply@blogger.com (Shawn4lia) — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 21:30:00 +0000

Life in Africa USA was formed in 2008 for the purpose of raising funds in the United States to support the efforts of the Life in Africa Foundation based in Uganda. One of Life in Africa's programs in Uganda helps provide school fees for orphans, who otherwise would not be able to attend school, as education is not provided free of charge as it is here in the U.S.

For more information, go to LifeInAfrica.com.

noreply@blogger.com (Shawn4lia) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 20:20:00 +0000

A First for Women

noreply@blogger.com (Shawn4lia) — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 23:33:00 +0000

Obama has signed his first bill: the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act. Hey, it's 2009, I think it's about time, don't you? If you Google it you can read all about it, but here I will just quote a few exerpts from Obama's statement about the bill:

"It is fitting that with the very first bill I sign - the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act - we are upholding one of this nation's first principles: that we are all created equal and each deserve a chance to pursue our own version of happiness.

"It is also fitting that we are joined today by the woman after whom this bill is named - someone Michelle and I have had the privilege of getting to know for ourselves. Lilly Ledbetter didn't set out to be a trailblazer or a household name. She was just a good hard worker who did her job - and did it well - for nearly two decades before discovering that for years, she was paid less than her male colleagues for the very same work. Over the course of her career, she lost more than $200,000 in salary, and even more in pension and Social Security benefits - losses she still feels today.

"But equal pay is by no means just a women's issue - it's a family issue. It's about parents who find themselves with less money for tuition or child care; couples who wind up with less to retire on; households where, when one breadwinner is paid less than she deserves, that's the difference between affording the mortgage - or not; between keeping the heat on, or paying the doctor's bills - or not. And in this economy, when so many folks are already working harder for less and struggling to get by, the last thing they can afford is losing part of each month's paycheck to simple discrimination.

"So in signing this bill today, I intend to send a clear message: That making our economy work means making sure it works for everyone...."

Again, more change we can all believe in. Your thoughts?

OK, here's the deal

noreply@blogger.com (Shawn4lia) — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 21:21:00 +0000

"Leading economists indicate that an economic investment bill would create more economic growth than the bill itself costs. For every $1 billion invested in transportation infrastructure, the U.S. creates 35,000 jobs and up to $6 billion in gross domestic product. Every $1 spent on food stamp benefits generates $1.73 in economic activity. Every $1 spent on unemployment benefits generates $1.64 in new economic demand. Every $1 in general aid to state government generates $1.36 in economic activity."

That's according to: Dr. J. Steven Landefeld, Director of the Bureau of Economic Analysis at the U. S. Department of Commerce; Dr. Nouriel Roubini, Professor of Economics and International Business at New York University; Dr. Simon Johnson, Professor of Entrepreneurship at MIT; and Dr. Richard Vedder, Distinguished Professor of Economics at Ohio University and Visiting Scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. http://www.house.gov/list/press/ny22_hinchey/morenews/102908HincheyJECHearing.html

Obama is trying to get an economic stimulus package passed, and all the Republicans are running around saying the same thing they have been saying for eight years: tax cuts tax cuts tax cuts! Ummmm, I think we tried that and it DIDN'T WORK!

You have to spend money to make money. Obama won the election, in a crystal clear referendum on Republican economic policies. Give him a chance to do what we elected him to do.

Oh, the Joy

noreply@blogger.com (Shawn4lia) — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 22:02:00 +0000

He's closing Guantanamo, rejecting torture and restricting lobbying, making his administration transparent, and limiting his staff's salaries. And that's just the first two days! What's not to like? I am really having trouble expressing the joy I am feeling that things are turning around. Finally the rule of law will be restored. Finally I can feel pride instead of embarrassment when the President speaks. It feels like a tall cool drink after eight years wandering in the wilderness.

Please share your thoughts! And here's to looking forward to the future of our beloved country once again!

My Letter to Bush

noreply@blogger.com (Shawn4lia) — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 18:02:00 +0000

Karl Rove went on Twitter last week and asked for farewell letters to Bush. I could not resist. I decided to make it short.

"Dear Mr. Bush,

When you were "elected" eight years ago, I wept. But over the next few weeks I hoped and prayed that you would surround yourself with wise advisers who would guide you away from the far-right agenda that I was so fearful of. Unfortunately, your actions revealed that you value loyalty over competence, partisanship over wisdom, and ideology over intellect. The consequences were far more tragic than even my greatest fears. You have decimated this great nation that I love. I hope that God will forgive you. I am not sure that I can.

The only silver lining is that your ruinous policies have directly resulted in the election of Barack Obama. I am not at all certain that he will be able to clean up even a small portion of the enormous mess you have left behind. But I will hope, and pray."

The deadline is 6 pm (ET) today if you would like to contribute your two cents: gwbfarewell@gmail.com

UPDATE: I just got a confirmation email from good old Karl, saying he will deliver my letter to W. I wonder if that will actually happen?

Just a Quickie

noreply@blogger.com (Shawn4lia) — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 21:20:00 +0000

I just have to say it.

That "farewell speech" by W was the biggest load of hooey I have ever heard. (Trying to keep it clean for the kids.) Not that I was at all surprised. But really, how is holding human beings without charges for years and torturing them "leading the cause of human rights and freedom"? How, exactly, does completely ignoring multiple warnings and allowing the most horrific terrorist attack ever on US soil mean you have "kept us safe"?

Of course, that is only scratching the surface. I'm not going to devote any more of my precious time to detailing the many other hypocrisies and lies that came out of George's mouth last night. I am just thanking God that none of us will have to listen to him any more.

Now This is a Step in the Right Direction

noreply@blogger.com (Shawn4lia) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 21:41:00 +0000

Today the House Committee on the Judiciary Majority issued a staff report entitled "REINING IN THE IMPERIAL PRESIDENCY: Lessons and Recommendations Relating to the Presidency of George W. Bush". I know there are those who feel we should be looking forward and not back, but doing nothing all but ensures that the excesses and the incompetence of the Bush administration will be repeated. And that is unacceptable.

This report is 486 pages long and contains 1,689 footnotes! No, I am not going to read the whole thing, but in just a quick glance I spotted this:

The Bush Administration’s approach to power is, at its core, little more than a restatement of Mr. Nixon’s famous rationalization of presidential misdeeds: “When the president does it, that means it’s not illegal.” Under this view, laws that forbid torturing or degrading prisoners cannot constrain the president because, if the president ordered such acts as Commander in Chief, “that means it’s not illegal.” Under this view, it is not the courts that decide the reach of the law – it is the president – and neither the judiciary nor Congress can constrain him. And where statutory law or the Constitution itself appear to impose obstacles to presidential whim, creative counselors can be relied upon to reach whatever result the president desires.

That pretty much sums it up, don't you think?

Onward to January 20th!

(Link to the report: http://www.scribd.com/doc/10323716/Reining-in-the-Imperial-Presidency)

Not exactly rolling out the welcome mat...

noreply@blogger.com (Shawn4lia) — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 23:28:00 +0000

Happy New Year everyone! Yeah, it's been awhile since I have posted, first it was the holidays, then I was under the weather, but today I am much better! My goal for 2009 is to post more often. Everyone expects a momentous year, what with Obama's inauguration, a new administration taking charge, and the continuing financial crisis.

So much has happened in the past couple of weeks! Bush got shoes thrown at him in Iraq, Blagojevich went ahead and appointed Obama's replacement while plans to impeach him are underway, things got tragically bad in the Middle East, and Cheney called himself "warm and lovable" (no, I am not making that up!).

But one of the smaller stories that caught my attention was the Blair House dustup. Blair House is the official presidential guest house, and according to tradition, the incoming President and his family are put up there during the days leading up to inauguration. In December, Obama requested an early move-in date because his daughters were to start school on January 5. But the request was denied, because Blair House was booked! What? Who or what event could possibly trump the President-elect? Really now, I can't think of anyone who, if asked very politely, wouldn't cheerfully rebook themselves and their entourage into a nearby hotel to accomodate the Obama family. But noooo, the prospective first family is currently residing at the Hay-Adams hotel, and then will have to move into Blair House, then again into the White House! Yeah, just a nice little last-minute snub courtesy of the Bush administration. Besides the obvious lack of common courtesy, the extra security required at the hotel is costing us taxpayers a not-insignificant amount of money. Blair House already has appropriate security.

So just WHO is the extremely important dignitary that bumped the Obama family out? None other than the former prime minister of Australia, John Howard, hated in his own country for his support of Bush's horrific adventure in Iraq. Bush is awarding him the Medal of Freedom. Right. MUCH more important that the soon-to-be leader of the free world. Um hmm.

It's just a perfect metaphor for how Bush has treated each and every American (other than the rich and powerful) since the day he took office eight years ago. With disdain and disrespect.

I can't WAIT for January 20.

It's Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Shawn4lia) — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 03:54:00 +0000

As this Christmas day is drawing to a close, I want to wish everyone who might be reading this a very happy holiday season, filled with family, friends and laughter.

Gay Marriage and the Bible

noreply@blogger.com (Shawn4lia) — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 05:25:00 +0000

I just read a fascinating piece on Newsweek's website titled, "Gay Marriage: Our Mutual Joy." I encourage all who have an interest in this topic and what the Bible has to say about it to read this. Those who point to Scripture to back up their argument that marriage is only between a man and a woman are, as it turns out, sadly mistaken.

My favorite quote from the piece is this: "The practice of inclusion, even in defiance of social convention, the reaching out to outcasts, the emphasis on togetherness and community over and against chaos, depravity, indifference—all these biblical values argue for gay marriage."

I would love to hear your thoughts.

Jeans and Cocktails

noreply@blogger.com (Shawn4lia) — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 17:42:00 +0000

Today, a silly post about dressing up, and how I guess I must be getting old.

Last night my husband Scott and I went to a Hollywood biz holiday party. We were excited that during this recession, some people are still throwing parties. The hosts were a small film production company (that a friend of ours has just started up), an advertising agency, and a company that does movie trailers. The invitation stated "cocktail attire." So I put on pantyhose, heels, a short black skirt and a silk blouse. (Normally I try to avoid pantyhose, but in the winter they aren't so bad.) I briefly considered that perhaps my ensemble wasn't QUITE dressy enough, but I thought I looked pretty good, so out the door we went. We pulled up, turned over our car to the valet, and joined the short queue at the door. That was when I noticed how the other people in line were dressed. They were wearing jeans.

Now I love jeans. I wear them all the time, every day, in fact. I have a home office, so I get to wear whatever I want to work, unless I have a meeting. Which is why, when I see "cocktail attire" on an invitation, I am happy to have an excuse to dress up. I don't do it very often, and it's fun to do every once in a while.

So call me old-fashioned, but I was not aware that jeans are now considered cocktail attire. Who knew? Now, most of these jeans-wearing hipsters were 20 years or so younger than us. And they all work in the TV or movie business. And the jeans were probably the pricey designer variety. But still. Of the 200-plus guests at this party, I counted about ten women wearing skirts. There were also a few in dressy pants, but the vast majority of both men and women there were in denim. Even in LA, where rules are meant to be broken, I was surprised to learn that dress codes pretty much don't exist anymore. Actually, that's not completely true. I am fairly certain that when the invitation states "black tie", you can't get away with wearing jeans.

I think.

Clothing aside, though, it was a great party, we had a marvelous time, met lots of interesting people, and saw many old friends. And next time, I'm wearing my best pair of jeans!

Happy Holidays!

Good news

noreply@blogger.com (Shawn4lia) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:29:00 +0000

It has been too long since I have posted, it's crazy holiday-itis time, but very quickly, I have a tiny bit of good news for you in this tough economy. You might be able to save some money. The news is this: if you are taking vitamins, STOP! That's right, so many studies have come in recently that the New York Times published an article last week about how people who take vitamins actually die sooner. So you don't have to spend a fortune at the health food store anymore, attempting to fend off disease and aging. Not even vitamin C (it protects cancer cells along with the good cells). With the exceptions of calcium for women and B12 for the elderly, vitamins are terrible for your health.

Feel better now?

This is why we are in trouble

noreply@blogger.com (Shawn4lia) — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:54:00 +0000

Greed.

Yesterday, the CEOs of the big three American automakers came to Washington with their Rolex-adorned hands outstretched, asking for handouts from the taxpayers. Give us money, or our top-heavy corporations are doomed to fail! And it's all the unions' fault! Pay no attention to the fourteen layers of management that have run the business into the ground. We will run leaner, we promise!

One lawmaker asked, by a show of hands, who among the three had flown to DC on a commercial flight. All hands remained down. He then asked who was willing to sell their private jet today, and fly home on a commercial flight. No hands went up.

It appears that even our do-nothing Congress does not have the stomach for this degree of avarice. The showdown vote was cancelled.

A Silver Lining

noreply@blogger.com (Shawn4lia) — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 00:52:00 +0000

An economic crisis is gripping the nation, and threatening to spread globally. Eight years (some say longer) of lax regulation in the financial markets has led inevitably to widespread greed and corruption. Almost a million Americans have lost their homes to foreclosure, and millions have seen their retirement accounts shrink to almost nothing.

The silver lining that I see is that finally, FINALLY, the incredibly ridiculous trickle-down, Reaganomics, free-market economic theories that have ruled our financial lives for so long will die. It has now been proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that cutting taxes for the wealthiest Americans does not create jobs or grow the economy. It simply makes the rich richer and leaves the rest of us with the crumbs. It is now obvious that deregulation and leaving the markets to run themselves offers too much temptation to a greedy few who would take advantage of the many to enrich themselves.

It will be an extremely painful lesson, and a long one. But with a new president who is focussed on the needs of the middle class over those of the ever-increasing number of billionaires, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. A new green economy, the restoration of essential regulation, increases in the minimum wage, and other proposals can't come fast enough.

Don't let the door hit you on the way out, George!

Obama's First Day on the Job

noreply@blogger.com (Shawn4lia) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:40:00 +0000

Cool Video from Africa

noreply@blogger.com (Shawn4lia) — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 23:57:00 +0000

As followup to my last post about how people the world over are celebrating Barack Obama's election victory, check out this video from Africa. I am sure there are many similar videos out there. This one features footage from Ghana, Kenya, Ivory Coast and Congo. Maybe I will look for one from Uganda.

Why do YOU think these people are jumping up and down, crying, and dancing for joy? After all, Obama is going to have his plate completely full fixing the many serious problems right here in the US. Is it because of his Kenyan ancestry? Or that he is a symbol of a changing attitude in the US toward minorities? Or is it just the prospect of a shift from a war-mongering, torturing, UN-mocking, imperialist leader to one more interested in peace, diplomacy, human rights and equality for all? Probably all of the above, and more. I would love to hear your opinion.

The Day After

noreply@blogger.com (Shawn4lia) — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 17:55:00 +0000

Wow! What a victory for Obama, and really for the whole world. I am listening to the Thom Hartmann show on Air America, and he is taking calls from all over the globe this morning. Everyone, from every nation, is saying the same thing: we are celebrating here. I know that my friends in Uganda, Kenya, Finland and elsewhere are celebrating also. The world still looks to America as a shining example, and the media worldwide have given unprecedented coverage to this election. In Obama's triumph, the world sees hope and freedom, and the expectation that our tarnished image can be restored to its former distinction. I am hearing African-American pundits say that growing up, their parents told them, "You can be anything you want, except President." That wall has come crashing down. It's wonderful. I am grateful that the Republican campaign was not successful in frightening Americans into voting against their best interests, and the interests of people everywhere.

Yes we did.

Is This Important?

noreply@blogger.com (Shawn4lia) — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 16:16:00 +0000

On this, the last day before an historic election, I found this. A misspelled word, in very large type, in a McCain campaign television ad. Do you think this is important? Or just a sad reflection of a campaign in the last throes of defeat, overlooking the details? It's probably the latter, but I think it says something about how the country might be run if McCain were to somehow pull off an upset (perish the thought!). When you are governing the most powerful nation on the planet, all of the details are important. How many people looked at this ad before it went out? Does this say something about the dumbing-down of the electorate, now that an intellectually challenged hockey mom can garner popular support as a VP candidate because voters like the fact that she is just like them? I don't know about you, but I don't want to elect someone like me. I want leaders that are much smarter than I am for this very complex and challenging job.

It's important!

Please get out there and VOTE!

Financial Times endorses Obama

noreply@blogger.com (Shawn4lia) — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 17:38:00 +0000

This just in: to follow up my post about taxes, the Financial Times, the British equivalent to the Wall Street Journal, has endorsed Barack Obama for president. The piece makes for a very balanced view, useful to hear from an outsider's perspective. It is well worth a couple of minutes of your time.

UDATE: Today (October 31) The Economist, the weekly news and international affairs paper, has also endorsed Obama. Read it here. (Full disclosure: The publication belongs to The Economist Group, half of which is owned by the Financial Times.)

Neither a conservative nor liberal publication, The Economist has in the past endorsed Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher and Bill Clinton.

"The Economist does not have a vote, but if it did, it would cast it for Mr Obama. We do so wholeheartedly: the Democratic candidate has clearly shown that he offers the better chance of restoring America’s self-confidence."